Does Dry Shampoo Help with Oily Hair?

Anyone who has oily hair knows how much of a buzzkill it can be. Besides making hair appear depressingly limp and lifeless, an extra oily scalp can contribute to a slew of other equally-frustrating hair problems, such as dandruff and even hair loss. But it’s not all bad news for oily-hair types. The naturally-occurring oils on your scalp are also loaded with squalene, fatty acids, esters of glycerol and other beneficial substances that help lubricate and protect the hair and scalp. The key to achieving healthy, easy-to-manage locks is getting all that oil under control — and that’s where dry shampoo comes into play.

Dry shampoo formulas vary from brand to brand, but in general, they contain absorbent ingredients such as starch or bentonite clay to help soak up excess oils and sweat on the scalp. Reducing oil on the scalp helps you extend the time between hair washings, which many hair experts say is beneficial for all hair types — including those with oily hair.

Does Dry Shampoo Help with Oily Hair? 

Yes! Dry shampoo is an excellent addition to your oily hair care arsenal. Along with absorbing the excess oils that give hair an overly-slick appearance, dry shampoo makes your hair appear fuller and thicker by eliminating the oils that weigh hair down.

Best of all, dry shampoo can make your hair less greasy as time goes on. That’s because over-washing your hair can trick your scalp into thinking it needs to produce more oil. By using dry shampoo, you can space out the time between washes and avoid sending your oil production into overdrive.

Another benefit to dry shampoo? It may help you get your dandruff under control at long last. Dandruff is believed to be caused by a yeast-like fungus that feeds on the oils in your scalp. By reducing the amount of oil on the scalp, you can take away the fungus’s primary food source and stop flakes in their tracks.

On top of all that, dry shampoo has the ability to:

• Keep odor at bay
• Save you time in the morning
• Refresh your hair after a workout 
• Reduce frizz
• Take the place of numerous hair care products, including hair sprays and styling gels

Why You Still Need to Wash Your Hair

It’s important to point out that dry shampoo doesn’t actually cleanse your hair — it just mattifies your roots by soaking up the excess oil. In other words, you still need to use actual shampoo to get hair clean. (Pro tip: Lather up with a plant-based shampoo bar for a clean you can feel good about!)

Choosing a Dry Shampoo for Oily Hair

Before you rush out and buy any old dry shampoo on the shelf, just know that not all formulas are created equal. Despite a growing number of hair care brands opting for cleaner product formulas, many dry shampoos still contain talc, a substance that may be linked to uterine and ovarian cancer. Harmful ingredients such as phthalates, parabens and alcohol are also sadly commonplace in commercial dry shampoo formulas.

At The Earthling Co., we know how exhausting it can be to research what seems to be a mile-long list of hard-to-pronounce ingredients. That’s why our natural dry shampoo is formulated with simple, naturally-derived ingredients like arrowroot powder and bentonite clay. Our dry shampoo is available in “light” and “dark” versions to blend seamlessly with your hair color. It also comes in a 100 percent recyclable and reusable jar!

Here are a few tips to get the most out of our natural dry shampoo:

• Don’t use too much product. Using too much dry shampoo can weigh your hair down and make it feel gritty. Start with a small amount and add more if needed.
• Apply with an old makeup brush. Your fingers will work just fine, of course. But we find that using an old makeup brush offers a more even application.
• Part your hair into sections. Use a wide-tooth bamboo comb to part your hair into small sections. Apply the product starting at the oiliest sections.
• Give it enough time to work. For best possible results, let the product sit in your hair for a few minutes so it can soak up all the oil. After three minutes or so, you can run a brush through your hair to disperse the powder. 

The Bottom Line

So, does dry shampoo help with oily hair? The answer is absolutely! Whether you’re dealing with occasional post-workout greasiness or a perpetually oily scalp, adding a dry shampoo to your routine is a no-brainer. These magical, multitasking products can do it all — add volume to your roots, revive yesterday’s hairstyle and stabilize your scalp’s oil production. 

Have we officially convinced you to add dry shampoo to your routine? Try our natural dry shampoo and enjoy smooth hair without the extra grease and shine!